If you follow the Russellville School District's athletic teams, you might have noticed a marked improvement in the area volleyball teams during the past few years. While it could have something to do with the talented young women in Russellville - as well as the quality coaches in the Arkansas River Valley - some credit must go to the Golden Suns Volleyball Club team that has provided talented youngsters the chance to play competitive volleyball year-round.

"As you can see, the Russellville Junior High and Middle School teams have had a lot of success because they have been playing together," Arkansas Tech University head volleyball coach Kristy Bayer said. "They've had success at their junior high and middle schools now, and, if they stay together as they go through, they're going to be a real strong high school team."

The club team, created by Bayer, travels the state after high school and junior high seasons and plays in tournaments to keep girls' skills sharp.

"When we first started it, we were the team that was getting beat at the tournaments," Bayer said. "But things have flipped around and we're the experienced team now. We've had some success."

Bayer said club volleyball is the sport's equivalent to AAU basketball. The Golden Suns club team started in 2007 working with girls 10-18 years of age, and recently started concentrating on girls 10-13 years old.

"After your high school (or junior high school) season, it's basically a way to train and practice," Bayer said. "To get that year-round touch on the ball. Also as these girls get older and stay together and play, it's going to help them with their (school) teams. With volleyball, you can lose your touch on the ball pretty easily if you don't play year-round. So it's just a way to get them touches and also teaches them proper technique at a young age.

"Another exciting thing for the girls is we have all our practices at Tucker Coliseum. So it's kind of neat for these kids to get to practice and play in a collegiate (venue). They get to get a feel for Arkansas Tech."

But why would someone saddled with coaching a NCAA Division II volleyball program, along with numerous other duties, take what little off time she has to give these young girls this wonderful chance? The easy answer is for the kids.

"The reason the Arkansas Tech coaches got involved in this was to better the volleyball in this community," Bayer said. "We just want to see volleyball get better in Arkansas."

And she's not doing it alone. Since the team has been cut to two groups, 10- and 11-year-olds and 12- and 13-year-olds, Brett Sikoro took over coaching duties for the older girls and Racheal Urquhart the younger.

"Racheal and Brett, they run all the practices," Bayer said. "I used to coach the team, but obviously with my work as athletic administrator and volleyball coach, and I just had a baby, I've kind of given up my coaching role, but I'm still active with the club directors. They do a great job planning practices. These young girls are fortunate because they have two coaches who are very, very knowledgeable about volleyball. They stress learning techniques and proper form at a young age because it's so much easier to do it that way than try to break someone's bad habits."

Just as important to the club has been Lori Eshnaur, Bayer explained.

"The person that's been fundamental in organizing the paperwork and tournaments and has basically been the parent liaison has been Lori," Bayer said. "She's had daughters (Taylor and Hunter) who have been through our program. She's been instrumental with all the behind-the-scenes work."

The club team's success has Bayer excited, and she said she can't wait to see how this year's group will perform. Most likely it will be well. Three seniors from last season's Lady Cyclones volley ball team - Taylor Eshnaur, Courtney Coulter and Teryn Laseter, along with junior Jaimie Long - were members of the first Golden Suns club team. The results were apparent as the four were the team's leaders.

The club team is sanctioned through USAVolleyball, the governing body for volleyball in the United States. Currently there are nearly 25 girls in the program, though not all of them are tournament players. The high numbers in such a short time may be attributed to the relatively low cost to join (Bayer said it's one of the cheapest volleyball club teams in the state). Tryouts are held in November, and announcements are made in advance.

For more information, contact Bayer at 964-0513 or e-mail kbayer@atu.edu.